SNAPSHOTU.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., won the Democratic
nomination for president in July, the only Democrat left standing in a field
that at one time numbered 10. In winning the nomination, Kerry survived several
shake-ups of his campaign after former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean spent most of
2003 as the frontrunner. But the Iowa caucuses, and an ill-timed scream, doomed
Dean, and forced out Sen. Richard Gephardt. And Kerry rolled on Super Tuesday,
forcing his primary competitor, Sen. John Edwards, out of the race. In June,
Kerry named Edwards his choice for vice president.

Kerry did not get a large bounce after the Democratic National Convention in
Boston, and then in late August, the Republican Convention in New York, coupled
with a strong ad campaign by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, heavily damaged
Kerry, who never recovered from a sharp drop in the polls, even though the final
election result was close.

Laura Bush's political prominence reflects her popularityFirst lady Laura Bush, in a rare foray into
foreign policy, will present her husband as a commanding
warrior against terrorism in a prime-time convention speech Tuesday night that highlights his leadership in "the most historic struggle my generation has ever known." Mrs. Bush has become a very active campaigner for her husband in recent months. (08/31/2004)Bush and Kerry's economic plansEven though a recent Pew Research Center poll shows national security weighs heavier on most Americans' minds than the economy, it's also clear that money matters to voters. But what are George W. Bush and John Kerry actually proposing to do in terms of economic policy? We ask two economists to compare the candidates' plans. (
08/31/2004)The Republican Convention in sights and soundsThe Republican National Convention opened in New York City on Monday August 30, 2004. For many Minnesota delegates, it was the first political convention, and in some cases the first trip to New York. In this multimedia slideshow, follows the delegates from the start of their day through the first session of the convention. RealAudio is required. (08/30/2004)Republicans praise Bush's handling of terrorism; delegates approve platformRepublicans belittled Democratic Sen. John Kerry
as a shift-in-the-wind campaigner unworthy of the White House on
Monday, opening their national convention four miles from Ground
Zero of America's worst terrorist attack. "We need George Bush
more than ever," said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. (08/30/2004)A brief history of the Republican PartyAs the Republicans convene in New York City for their national convention we sit down with two historians and trace the transformations the party has gone through from Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush. (
08/30/2004)Minnesotans join thousands of others in New York protestA busload of Minnesotans joined a protest by tens of thousands of people in Manhattan on Sunday as Republicans streamed into the city for their national convention. (08/29/2004)Minnesota Bush supporters in NY for GOP conventionAs the Republican National Convention begins in New York City, 41 delegates and 38 alternates from Minnesota will gather at Madison Square Garden. For about two-thirds of the Minnesota delegates, this is their first national convention. Many have significant roles in the Bush-Cheney campaign, and the delegation is united in its support for President Bush and his reelection bid. (08/29/2004)Kerry campaign goes after undecidedsDemocratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Thursday laid out his plans for addressing the increasing cost of health care at a forum at Anoka Technical College.
But health care wasn't the only issue on the minds of the audience. Kerry's scheduled 45-minute appearance expanded to nearly two hours as he tackled questions that veered well beyond the topic of the day. (08/26/2004)Kerry comes to MinnesotaSenator John Kerry talked about health care in comments carried live from Anoka Technical College. He followed with a question and answer session with the audience reportedly including undecided voters. Meanwhile, questions still surround the connections between the campaigns and independent advocacy groups. (
08/26/2004)Kerry and Bush offer dramatically different health care proposalsPresident Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry have radically different approaches to addresses the rising cost of health care. President Bush would direct most incentives to individuals who buy their own coverage, while Sen. Kerry would provide businesses that provide workers with health insurance with tax breaks. (08/25/2004)Ralph Nader in Sioux FallsIndependent presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke to some 250 supporters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 24. He gave a wide-ranging policy speech outlining his positions on everything from the war in Iraq to the threat of a new flu epidemic. He also spoke out against Democratic efforts to keep him off the ballot in many states, saying John Kerry would be "presented with a mini-Watergate" if he didn't rein in his supporters. (
08/25/2004)Third parties and independent votersWhat role will Ralph Nader play in this year's presidential election? What's the future of Minnesota's Independence party in the post-Ventura era? We talk with the former chairs of Minnesota's Green and Independence parties about the role third parties and independent voters will play in upcoming local and national elections. (
08/25/2004)Nader brings campaign to South DakotaRalph Nader says the only way to change government is to get involved. Nader spoke in Sioux Falls Tuesday night. He talked for more than two hours, criticizing corporate greed, the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Nader says historically, the nation's best laws have been a reaction to citizen outrage. (08/25/2004)The battleground within the battlegroundWhen Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry comes to Minnesota to campaign Thursday, he's going to the Anoka Hennepin Technical College in Anoka County. Why Anoka County? Most likely because it's a key swing county in what both Republicans and Democrats see as a key swing state. (08/25/2004)Talk of Minnesota: John Kerry's 1971 anti-war testimonyIn April of 1971, John Kerry gave a speech before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about war crimes that other soldiers serving in Vietnam allegedly committed. That testimony is the focus of a new Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad that claims Kerry "dishonored his country and more importantly the people he served with." We play the ad alongside Kerry's testimony, and then we open the phone lines to get listeners' reactions. (
08/24/2004)